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The principal districts in which the opium-poppy was previously grown are Chieh Yang, Pu Ning, Feng Shun, Ch'ao Yang, Chao An, and Jao Ping the two latter in a much less degree, but nowhere have I been able to discover a single plant.
The information received at this consulate from Chinese and missionary sources was to the effect that very little, if any, poppy had been planted in the autumn of 1016 in the Ch'ao Yang, Chao An, and Jao Ping districts, in tho east of Chieh Yang, the east and south of P'u Ning, and the north and east of Feng Shun, and that what little had been plante! had been uprooted as soon as the shoots appeared, none being left growing at the end of the year. This claim appears to me to be fully established by the fact that all the fields I passed through in these districts were in full cultivation with winter crops,
such as wheat, hemp, sugar-cane, &c., the sowing period of which coincides with, or is earlier than, that of the poppy, and the cultivation of the opium- poppy would, therefore, appear to have been completely eradicated from these districts.
With regard to the western half of Chieh Yang and the adjoining portions of P'u Ning and Feng Shun, all reports agree that much poppy was planted in the autumn of 1916, and that, owing to the supinene-a and carelessness of the magistrates, who were simply place-seekers who had bought their appointments from the focal revolutionary Government, and also owing to the unruly character of the Hakka inhabitants of the country, a great deal of the poppy was permitted to come to maturity, and the scraping of the capsules had commenced. Early in 1917, however, energetic magistrates were appointed from Canton, who personally conducted the uprooting of the poppy plants throughout their districts so energetically that, by the middle of February, practically not a single plant was left. The amount of opium collected a part of the first scraping only-is said to to have been but a very small percentage of the expected main crop,
none of which was harvested, while no seed can have been saved for the next autumn's planting,
These districts I investigated very thoroughly, visiting all places where missionary reports stated that opium-poppy had been seen growing, but was unable to discover a single plant. The winter crop in these districts is mainly wheat, for which, during the past seven or eight years, opium has been largely substituted; and though wheat was much in evidence, numerous bare, uncultivated plots of land showed where the poppy had been pulled up too late to permit of any other crops being sown during the winter.
The Chao Hsün Taoyin, Mr. Wang Siao Cho, though unable, on account of his official duties in Swatow, to accompany the party throughout, visited us at Ch'ao Yang, Chiel: Yang, Pu Ning, and Ch'ao An district cities, and at Ung Kung, in Jaop'ing district, to satisfy himself that all arrangements for the journey and for our convenience were being satisfactorily carried out. As a suitable chair was not otherwise procurable, the Taoyin place his own private chair and bearers at my disposal for the whole journey.
A detailed itinerary and a map* showing the route followed are enclosed herewith.
S. WYATT SMITH.
Enclosure 10 in No. 1.
I have, &c.
Itinerary of Journey through Kwangtung.
March 19.--By launch and chair to Ch'ao Yang, accompanied by the Taoyin and Commissioner for Foreign Affairs. Crops mostly market produce, sweet potatoes, and tobacco.
March 20. Taoyin and Foreign Commissioner returned to Swatow. We went by chair to shore of Haimun Bay, crossed bay by launch to the promontory, and thence via Sua Leng to Hap Sun. All fields in full cultivation with sugar-cane, sweet potatoes and oranges. Country very fat and soil sandy. Paths very good, being composed of lime
concrete about 4 feet wide.
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March 21. Firstly to top of the Hap San hill, where a good view of the surround- ing country was obtained, showing all land in full cultivation but no poppy. Thence via Hua Peng to Kui Su along a river valley. Country very fertile and in full cultivation with rice, sugar-cane, and sweet potatoes.
March 22-The first part of the journey lay across a very fertile plain, where formerly much opium was grown. Now none cau be seen, sugar-care being the
Map ut reproduced.
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Then across a range of hills and through paddy fields to the river bank
principal crop. at Kuan Pou.
March 23. In the morning a tour round the neighbouring country, where the principal crops were sugar-cane and paddy. In the afternoon by water to Kityang. Fields on both sides of the river in full cultivation, the principal crops being puddy and sweet potatoes. The Taoyin arrived at Kityang in the evening.
March 24.-In the morning and afternoon inspected the land to the north of the river, climbing a high peak from which the surrounding country could be viewed. Crops mostly sugar, sweet potatoes, and paddy. Ten at the Kityang Educational Bureau, where the President of the Chamber of Commerce delivered an address thanking Great Britain for the help she was giving China in eradicating the growth of the opium-poppy-
March 25.-Sufficient clies being, at first, unprocurable, a short march only was possible to Sin Hêng. Crops mostly sugar and sweet potatoes. Country very flat.
March 26.-Viâ Ku Kou to Wu King Fu. The country at first flat, and growing rice, sugar, and sweet potatoes, but, near Wu King Fu. the country became hilly, and wheat was the principal crop.
March 27.-Via Ku Tang to Nam San. Hilly country inhabited solely by Hakkas. Crops mainly wheat and hemp, but many fields left fallow pointed to poppy having been pulled up too late for any other crop to be planted during the winter.
March 28-Nam San tot Ho Po. Country very hilly, except just round Ho Po, which is situated in the middle of a large fertile plain. The smaller hills all terraced. Crops: paddy, wheat, and hemp, but many bare patches as on previous day.
March 29.-To Tua Nia Pou across a high mountain pass. Country very moun. tainous. Crops mostly wheat and hemp, but many fields left fallow.
March 30.—To Mi Wu. First through low hills with little fertile land. Then across to tertile plain with huge fields of wheat, though some fallow fields.
March 31-To Li Wu by road near river. Country very fertile. Crops mostly wheat; fallow patches here and there.
April 1-To Wu Chieh by circuitous route over low foot-hills. Mostly paddy country, but some wheat and hemp.
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April 2. To Kee Lun, over rolling hills. Mostly paddy and wheat.
April 3. To Pu Ning. Much tobacco and orange-trees near city. Taoyin arrived in the afternoon from Swatow, returning next morning.
April 4.To Mi Wu, across fertile plain. Crops: tobacco, wheat, and paddy. April 5-Tu Pu Tsz Tsai, via Wu King Fu. Country hilly. Crops wheat and hemp, with some fallow fields, now being ploughed up for paddy.
April 6-To Tong Hang, over low foot-hills. Rolling country. The principal crop is wheat, though much fallow land, now being ploughed up, slows where poppy has been pulled up.
April 7.-To Fông Shun. Mountainous country, only fertile in the narrow plain. Crops mainly wheat and paddy
April 8-Ta Pan Tien, through valley, Land not very fertile and crops mainly paddy, but much bamboo being planted on the hills.
April 9.-To Liu Wang, through valley. Hills on all sides. Land only fertile in the valleys. Crop mainly paddy, and bamboo grown on the hill-sides.
April 10-To Ch'ao An, by water. Only narrow strips of land on each side fertile, where paddy and wheat are the main crop. The hills are mainly planted with bamboo and pine-apple. Near Chao An the valley widens out and the crops become varied, mostly market garden produce. Taoyin and Foreign Affairs Commissioner arrived from Swatow for the night.
April 11.To Pin Kee. Crops mainly paddy in valley. Very heavy rain fell, which flooded the paths. The road lay across a very high pass, the land being mainly unfertile.
April 12.-To Lai Fo Shan. The road lay first over a very high pass, the hilly country being absolutely unfertile. Then a widening plain, the main crops of which were paddy and tobacco, The rain was incessant and very heavy, and all our baggage was drenched through. The streams were swollen and, no bridges being available, sooIL became almost unfordable, the water being up to the coolies' and soldiers' waists.
April 18-We remained all day at Lai Fo Shan to dry our baggage and clothes. The surrounding country is hilly with fertile plains, where the principal crops were paddy and tobacco,
April 14.---To Ung Kung. Country fairly hilly, but with plenty of fertile land in
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